What to do if your child gets car sick (and how to prevent it next time)

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Motion sickness symptoms can include pale skin, a cold sweat, drowsiness, or pain when traveling by sea, car, train or air. However, when kids get car sick, it often ends in vomiting.

Kids between the ages of 2 and 12 are most susceptible to experiencing this unpleasant syndrome. Even if a young child lets you know they aren't feeling well, it can be challenging to pull over and remove your child from a car seat or booster before the heaving ensues.

You can help prevent your kids from getting car sick by keeping them hydrated, distracting them and encouraging them to look outside the car, or traveling at nap time. In addition, preparation for the worst-case scenario will help you handle the situation if your child throws up in the car.

1. Cover the Car Seat

Before you even leave your driveway, layer your puke-prone child in a large plastic bib or other protective cover worn over the car seat straps. This can save you from trying to remove smelly vomit from straps and other hard-to-clean places.

2. Pack a Clean-up Kit

Keep a container of gear in your car just in case. Paper towels, plastic groceries bags, a bottle of water, hand sanitizer, a change of clothes and a bottle of air freshener can greatly improve the situation.

3. Don't Panic

Trying to catch the vomit, comfort your child and keep the seats from getting soaked while driving is a recipe for disaster. Speak calmly to your child as you look for a safe place to exit the roadway-preferably one with a public restroom.

4. The Car Can Wait

Immediately cleaning up and soothing your child (while calming your own nerves) will help the rest of the ride go more smoothly. The few minutes this takes will not make the interior of your car any grosser than it already is. When you are done, wipe down the seat, floor and straps as much as you can. Once you get home, you can remove the car seat to perform a deep cleaning.